2012 GP New York

[segedunum]

If they want a US GP then they're going to have to come up with a location better than this. This is in the middle of nowhere.

[ISLAMATRON]

What many are not realizing is that this is not in the middle of nowhere, but 90 mins from somewhere, namely NYC... many famous and rich people already live in Monticello(and nearby "UPSTATE" AREAS) and many are members of this motor club... actually they are the reason why this track exists "in the middle of nowhere".

So while the gate numbers might be small make no mistake the rich and famous will have no problem stepping out of the front yards to make this race.

[WhiteBlue]

What many are not realizing is that this is not in the middle of nowhere, but 90 mins from somewhere, namely NYC... many famous and rich people already live in Monticello(and nearby "UPSTATE" AREAS) and many are members of this motor club... actually they are the reason why this track exists "in the middle of nowhere".

So while the gate numbers might be small make no mistake the rich and famous will have no problem stepping out of the front yards to make this race.

90 minutes by individual traffic isn't suitable. You can get to Silverstone from London in that time and Silverstone has always been considered unsuitably located for the London crowd. The rich NYC clients of the club are going by helicopter but that isn't an option for a 100.000 person F1 crowd either.

[engineguru00]

You are going to be hard pressed to find a track in the US that could support an F1 race anywhere near a major city. Of the tracks I have visited for various events (Michigan International Speedway, Virginia International Raceway, Mosport International Raceway, and Watkins Glen), they are all pretty much in the middle of nowhere. This is because that is where large amount of land can be bought cheaply and no one complains about the noise.

That being said, most aren't without facilities. They may be a bit of a pain to get to for the average person, but all have airports nearby used by teams to get their equipment in and out. There are normally large number of hotels in the area (probably not the high class ones needed for F1, your average NASCAR fan won't pay for them). As they are used to NASCAR races (which pull more fans than F1 does at the races themselves), there is no shortage in the rest of the off-track facilities needed.

Just have to throw in that I laugh at Monticello being called "Upstate", but I guess to people in the city anything North of them is upstate (so the entire state).

[jwielage]

Regarding the geographic location of Monticello Raceway:

In my opnion this is one of the better geographic locations you could pick in all of the United States. So what if certain "rich & famous" people are turned off by a 90 minute limo ride to get to the track. Is that what makes a good F1 venue, the ability for rich people to easily get to the circuit in under 30 minutes? Sorry for beating a dead horse.

Here's why its a good location:
1. 90 minutes from New York City, an easy drive for anyone living in NYC, and an even easier drive from the West Chester area, and south western Conneticut (both wealthy areas) The greater New York area has an enourmous population (19 million people). Not to mention the track is a 10 mile drive from a Metro North Train Station. Even people without cars, who were located in NYC or near a metro north station could easily get to this circuit (and drink beers on the train while doing so). All that they would have to do is set up a shuttlebus to and from the circuit.
2. About 2.5 hours from Philadelphia (even closer for nothern suberbs), another very large metropolitan area (9 million people) million).
3. About 3 hours from Boston, yet another large metropolitan area(6 Million people)
4. The area has a beautiful rolling landscape, which should make for a great circuit.

This circuit would by no means be in the middle of nowhere, considering there are about 30 million people within a 3 hour drive.

[andrew]

Ain't gonna happen. F1 can manage without a race in the US.

There are pleanty other circiuts which should have an F1 race that currently don't and I would much rather see a race at these than in the US at some club circuit which gets millions of dollars spent on it only to have 3 blokes, a burger seller and a dog watching.

The last Indy race wasn't exactly a sell out I don't think.

[mkay]

Ain't gonna happen. F1 can manage without a race in the US.

There are pleanty other circiuts which should have an F1 race that currently don't and I would much rather see a race at these than in the US at some club circuit which gets millions of dollars spent on it only to have 3 blokes, a burger seller and a dog watching.

The last Indy race wasn't exactly a sell out I don't think.

The shenanigans of 2005 totally destroyed the race in 2006.

Indy has beaten all attendance records (the track can hold 250,000 and was quite full on almost all occasions).

Countries like China, Turkey and Bahrain hardly seem to give a sh*t about F1, so much that they are giving tickets instead of selling them. Why only pinpointing the USA? There are more F1 fans in USA than in all those countries combined. Easily.

[andrew]

185,000 in 2001. Don't think there were this many in 2007 were there?

And it wasn't a particularly good F1 circuit either.

[mx_tifoso]

Andrew, what is your point? That since Indy sucked there shouldn't be anymore US GP's? That American sucks?

[strad]

90 minutes by individual traffic isn't suitable

90 minutes ain't squat to us in the USA.
This track won't happen in my opinion simply because it isn't up to those lofty F1 standards..No quarter mile runoff between the track and the armco,,there is a hill just to the right of the track where people could sit and watch and which could flip a car and generally people would be so close they could see the cars.
Never happen

[andrew]

My whole point is that there seems to be only one circuit that will currently meet Bernie Ecclestones demands - Indy. I'm guessing that any other circuit would need a massive amount of investment and work done and would loose much of its character. Indy was not a particularly good F1 race but I would like to see F1 at Laguna Seca. Sadly it is probably too short and in some repects basic for F1.

When there are circuits like Imola, Buenos Aries, Paul Ricard, Mangy Cours standing idle, it seems more sensible to use those then spend a huge amount of cash on upgrading a circuit in the US for a race that may not last.

But this has nothing to do with my personnal opinion of America but is to do with not wanting to see what may be a good track get ruined - like Donnington.

[mx_tifoso]

Good answer.

And while most of us here in the states would like a GP, I find it similar to soccer/football. In that I don't the American versions appealing whatsoever, while I just follow the European leagues.

And as you mentioned Andrew, upgrading such a small and basic circuit would mean that it looses much of it's character. And in the aftermath very little would remain of what once was. Although that can be both a good or bad thing.

[strad]

The last Indy race wasn't exactly a sell out I don't think.

You're kidding right? Indy didn't need to "sell out" to out draw almost ANY other F1 event.

Imola, Buenos Aries, Paul Ricard, Mangy Cours standing idle

Now list a decent circuit

[andrew]

The last Indy race wasn't exactly a sell out I don't think.

You're kidding right? Indy didn't need to "sell out" to out draw almost ANY other F1 event.

Imola, Buenos Aries, Paul Ricard, Mangy Cours standing idle

Now list a decent circuit

I may be wrong on the attendance figures.

And if Imola isn't a decent circuit, I don't know what is! Even with the chicanes, it's up there with Spa.

[barricadas]

Spend the Money to upgrade Watkins Glen upstate NY, great track, even greater scenery.

Yes, great call. And quite "american" with those three 90º and three straights. And a legendary name.